Spectacles



Feb. 18, 1930. 18. D. RITHOLZ 1,747,843

SPECTACLES Filed D60. 11. 1926 o I W fl Patented Feb. 18, 1930 Arar FICE

BENJAMIN D. RITHOLZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL WATCH &

JEWELRY (10., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SPECTACLES Application filed December 11, 1926. Serial No. 154,143.

This invention relates to spectacles of that type which are often called library spec tacles and comprise relatively large lenses mounted in a one-piece frame made of celluloid, imitation tortoise-shell or other similar material and having long bows or temples.

The object of the invention is to hinge the bows to the lens frame in a novel manner so that they will be limited in their opening movement by engagement with the frame and lie snugly against the frame in folded position.

In. the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated a selected embodiment of the invention and referring thereto:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the spectacles with the bows in open position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the bows in folded position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views showing the bows in opened and in folded positions respectively.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one hinge portion, partly in section.

Referring to the drawings 6 is the frame of the spectacles having lenses 7 mounted therein. Frames of thistype are generally made of a single piece of material and the lenses are inserted or removed heating the material to expand the portions in which the lenses are held. At the opposite ends of the frame there are parallel lugs 8 spaced apart to receive the bows 9, 9 which are pivotally mounted in the lugs by pins 10. These lugs are formed integrally with the frame and are permanently spaced a given distance apart by reason of the fact that the frame is made in one piece. The bows are bent inwardly at an angle at their pivoted ends to form proj ections or stop lugs 11 and they are enlarged at 12 at the corner formed by these projected ends 11 to receive the pivot pins 10. The frame is inclined rearwardly at 13 between the lugs 8 to a point close to the pivot pins 10. The projections 11 engage the front of the frame to limit the opening movement of the I i:

bows. The pivot of each bow is located in the enlargement 12 at the bend or corner formed between the bow proper and the projecting end 11 and at one side of the bow proper, so that when the bow is folded it will lie snug to the frame, as shown in Fig. 2 so that the spectacles can be conveniently carried in a case or in a pocket. The rearwardly inclined shoulder 13 on the frame between the lugs 8 accommodates the enlarged portion 12 of the bow so that it may lie flatly against the frame. It is usual in spectacles of this kind to bend the bows to fit the contour of the head of the wearer and this is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In Fig. 2 one of the bows 9? is elevated slightly above the frame because of the bend of the bow, and the other bow 9 is elevated slightly because it crosses the how 9. The inclined shoulder 13 allows the bows to fold as snugly as the curvature of the bows will permit and avoids the provision of a fulcrum for the bows when in folded position which would tend to distort the frame if pressure is applied to the folded bows. However, by inclining the shoulder 13 it brings the outer side of the frame very close to the pivots of the bows and forms a substantial stop surface for the lug l1 and still prevents the use of a comparatively short 111g 11 on the bow.

The invention provides a simple, novel and eflicient pivot connection for the bows with the frame whereby the bows may fold snugly to closed position, and the construction is such that the frame is not subjected to distortion if pressure is applied to thebows in folded position because, as before stated, the inclined shoulder 13 prevents the formation of a fulcrum atthis point which would produce distortion if pressure were applied upon the folded bows. Spectacles of this kind are designed to be safely used in a more careless manner than spectacles with metal frames, or without frames, or eyeglasses; they are de- A pivot. accommodates the pivot end of the bow and signed primarily to be worn in a library or in the office, not for constant use but to be put on and taken off at relatively frequent intervals. They are light in weight, but somewhat bulky as to size to protect the lenses and provide the necessary strength to withstand the usage to which they are subjected. It is common practice with spectacles of this kind to place or throw them carelessly on a desk or table and their size makes them conspicuous so that they are not so liable, as other spectacles and eyeglasses, to be damaged by placing or throwing books or other articles upon them. It is also common practice to open the bows and push the spectacles into place on the head by using one hand; also to fold them and thrust them carelessly in a coat pocket. The material of which the bows and frame is made is capable of yielding as much as may be necessary in spectacles, but the pivot for each bow is the weak point of the spectacles, and if the construction is such that a bow will lie in a position against the frame to fulcrum thereon, the result will be that the pivot willquickly wear to a loose condition and lessen the value and usefulness of the spectacles, and finally break. It is cus tomary to bend the bows to fit more or less the contour of the head and there is always the possibility of the bows assuming a position to fulcrum on the frame when they are folded.

slots and pivot pins passing through said enlargements and said lugs to pivotally mount the bows in said slots, the rear walls of said slots being inclined rearwardly and inwardly to clear the enlargements in their pivotal movements to permit the bows to fold closely to the frame without fulcruming thereon, said enlargements extending close to the front portions of the inclined rear walls of the slots in the operative positions of the bows, and said enlargements also of a size occupying a material portion of the respective slots to brace the lugs.

BENJAMIN D. RITHOLZ.

Since spectacles are always fitted to a wearer,

the construction must be such that under all ordinary conditions the possibility of the bows fulcruming 011 the frame will be avoided. This I have accomplished in a very simple manner, involving but slight changes in the construction and without increasing the cost of manufacture of the spectacles, by shaping the bow and the frame at the pivot so that the bow will be accommodated in a folded position and permitted to be pressed against the frame without damage to the The slot formed between the lugs the inclined back wall 13 of the slot permits the bow to fold snugly against the frame. If the bow is straight, it may contact with the frame throughout the length of the-frame;

but I have shown the bows slightly bent to indicate that they are generally bent tosome extent in actual use. Even when the bows are bent they are capable of being pressed 7 against the frame because the bows will yield sufiiciently, and therefore the invention is as important with bent bows as with straight bows.

I claim:

Spectacles comprising a one-piece frame having integral spaced lugs projecting outwardly at the ends thereof to form slots, onepiece bows having integral bent ends forming stops to engage the outer side of the frame, integral pivotv enlargements at the bends, the pivot enlargements lying in the respective 

